BIOGRAPHIES

BIOGRAPHIES

Greene County Arkansas Genealogy Trails

Allison, W. T.

Archer, T. J.

Johnson, Colonel Benjamin A.

Tredaway, John C.

W. T. ALLISON

Transcribed by A. Newell, July 2006

Source: The Goodspeed Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas, 1889, The Goodspeed Publishing Company, Chicago, p. 122.

W. T. Allison was born on the 25th of December 1850 in Gibson County, Tenn., being the eldest of six children, two now living, born to John W. and Elizabeth (Harrington) Allison, who were born in the "Old North State" and emigrated to Gibson County, Tenn., in 1828, where the father engaged in cabinet making and farming, and made his home until 1867, when he moved to Weakley County, Tenn., where he now resides. In 1862 he enlisted in the army and served under Gen. Forrest until nearly the close of the war. He is a Democrat. His wife died in 1861.
W. T. Allison attended the schools of Gibson County, and in his youth also followed the plow, which occupation has been his chief calling ever since. In January 1876 he removed to Stoddard County, MO, and for a number of years was engaged in teaching school in Dexter and other places. While there he was married on the 8th of May, 1879 to Miss Minnie A. Walker, a native of Carroll County, Tenn., and a daughter of John and Sarah (Gibbons) Walker, also Tennesseeans and farmers by occupation. After residing in Stoddard County, Mo., for five years, the father died in 1877. The mother is still a resident of that county. Remaining in Stoddard County until the 5th of September 1882, Mr. Allison and wife then moved to Craighead County of this State, and after working as salesman in that county until March 1883, he came to Greene County, Ark., and purchased two years later eighty acres of improved land, to which he has since added 122 acres, making 202 acres in all, of which forty are under cultivation. He has taken an active part in politics, and votes the Democratic ticket, being the present justice of the peace and is filling his second term. Socially he is a member of the Agricultural Wheel at Haliday, and he and wife belong to the Baptist Church. Three of the four children born to their union are living: Clyde Eugenia, Dero Dean, and Vernie Pearl. Adolphus Burdette died in 1881 at the age of six months and three weeks. Mr. Allison is still engaged in teaching, having followed that occupation a part of four years in Greene County, and is considered one of the successful educators of his district.

T. J. ARCHER

Transcribed by A. Newell, July 2006

Source: The Goodspeed Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas, 1889, The Goodspeed Publishing Company, Chicago, p. 122.

Among the many sturdy "sons of the soil" of Greene County, Ark., who have attained wealth and prominence in their calling by the sweat of their brow, and who command an enviable social position, is Mr. Archer, the subject of this biography. He was born in Alabama in 1847 and is the youngest in a family of nine children born to the marriage of Rev. Phillip Archer and Artemisa Maxwell. The father in connection with his ministerial duties, was engaged in farming, and followed these two occupations until his death which occurred on the 10th of August 1868, his death being preceded by that of his wife by twenty-one years. The paternal grandfather left Alabama and settled in Arkansas during the early history of that State, being an extensive farmer for many years. His death occurred very suddenly.
T. J. Archer was reared to farm labor, and at the age of twenty-one years married Miss Lenora Amorine, of Alabama, and two years later came to Arkansas, settling first in Polk County, remaining one year, and then went to Monroe County, where he stopped five years. Since 1875 he has resided in Greene County, and the first few years was engaged in tilling rented land, and since 1885 has been the owner of 160 acres of land near the Cache bottoms, which was at first wild land but is now well improved, with seventy-five acres under fence and cultivation. His land is among the best in this section and is devoted principally to raising corn and cotton.
To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Archer have been born the following children: Philip William Thomas, who is married and resides on his father's place; Benjamin O., Adolphus, Osceola, Thome and Moses Ray, living; and John, Ida, Eldora, and Daniel, deceased.

H. L. AYERS

Transcribed by A. Newell, July 2007

Source: The Goodspeed Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas, 1889, The Goodspeed Publishing Company, Chicago, p. 122-123.

H. L. Ayers, a wealthy farmer of Greene County, Ark., was born in Bedford County, Tenn., in 1858, and is the second in a family of four children born to the marriage of Frank and Loddie (Williams) Ayers, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Tennessee. At the early age of eight years H. L. Ayers left home and began depending on his own resources for obtaining a livelihood, and up to the age of seventeen years worked on farms and did teaming. In 1879 he was married in Gibson County, Tenn., to Miss Addie Rosson, who was born, reared and educated in that State, being a daughter of John Rosson, who was known as one of the best farmers in West Tennessee, his farm of 300 acres being valued at $9,000. After his marriage, Mr. Ayers worked with his father-in-law until 1883, when he made a trip to Arkansas and traveled over the greater portion of that State, as well as Missouri, the Indian Territory, Texas, New Mexico, Louisiana and Mississippi. After one year he returned to West Tennessee and at the end of one year went to Fulton County, KY, where he resided two years. In August, 1886 he moved his family to Greene County, Ark., where he engaged in the teaming business, which he followed for two years, and then acted as stave inspector for J. F. Hasty & Son for one year. He next began farming on a tract of 160 acres of land in Greene County in December, 1888, and on this be immediately began to make improvements, and has introduced many new methods of farming. He has thirty-five acres in corn, fifteen in oats, thirty-five in rye and oats for pasture, and two in potatoes. On this farm is a fine orchard of 540 trees, mostly peach, beside a fine assortment of other fruit. He is doing well in his calling and promises to become in time a wealthy man. He and wife are the parents of one daughter, Lizzie May.

JOSEPH BLEIER

Transcribed by A. Newell, July 2007

Source: The Goodspeed Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas, 1889, The Goodspeed Publishing Company, Chicago, p. 123.

Joseph Bleier, proprietor of the Vienna Bakery, at Paragould, was born in Bohemia, Austria, December 17, 1846, and is the son of Ignatz and Anna (Freitle) Bleier, also natives of Austria. The parents are still living in their native country, and the father follows the occupation of a farmer. In their family were eight children: Joseph, Frank, Robert, Ignatz, John and Otto (twins), Barbara and Anna. Joseph Bleier received his education in Austria, and remained on the farm with his father until fourteen years of age, when he began learning the baker's trade. In 1867 when in his twentieth year, he took passage from Bremen to America on the steamer, "Ocean," which was stranded one year later, and landed at New York City. He came on to Cincinnati, where he worked for about eight years in and around the city. He then went to Chicago, remained there about three years and then engaged in business for himself at Joliet, Ill. In 1886 he came to Paragould and immediately engaged in his present business, at which he has been very successful. He is an excellent baker and keeps a good stock of everything carried in his line. He was married in October, 1873 to Miss Mary Gaker, a native of Hamilton County, Ohio, and a daughter of John and Rosa (Schleer) Gaker, who were natives of Germany and early settlers of Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. Bleier have been born five children, three now living: John K., Frank and Joseph E. The two deceased were Robert and Mathew. Mr. and Mrs. Bleiser are members of the Catholic Church.

E. M. BOBO

Transcribed by A. Newell, July 2007

Source: The Goodspeed Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas, 1889, The Goodspeed Publishing Company, Chicago, p. 123-124.

E. M. Bobo. Among Greene County's self-made, enterprising and successful citizens, none deserve more favorable mention than the subject of this sketch, E. M. Bobo, who was born in South Carolina in 1840. His father, A. P. Bobo, came from the Palmetto State to Arkansas in 1857, and entered 160 acres of land, upon which he lived engaged in farming and stock raising until his dath in 1886. He was held in favor by his fellow farmers, and was for two years coroner of Greene County. Of his family of seven childen, two sons and five daughters, four are still living, one in North Carolina, two in Texas, and one in Arkansas. They are Mary (Bobo) Prince, E. M. Bobo, Virginia (Bobo) Swindle, and Spotana (Bobo) Love. E. M. Bobo was seventeen years of age when he came with his father to this State, where he has since made his home. He has about 154 acres of land, with eighty under cultivation, forty of which he has cleared himself, and his farm is well stocked with horses, cattle, hogs and fine sheep. October 2, 1861 Mr. Bobo enlisted in the Fifth Arkansas Infantry, and though twice wounded, continued in service during the entire war. He and wife have reared a family of nine children: M. A., born in 1862; Matilda, born in 1866; G. M., born in 1867; Olive, born in 1869, Victoria, born in 1871; Arthur E., born in 1872; J. E., born in 1874; Alice, born in 1875, and Ada, in 1878. Mr. Bobo belongs to the Agricultural Wheel, and he and wife and family are active members of the Methodist Church.

M. W. BOYD

Transcribed by A. Newell, July 2007

Source: The Goodspeed Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas, 1889, The Goodspeed Publishing Company, Chicago, p. 124.

M. W. Boyd, (deceased) was an enterprising and industrous farmer of Greene County, Ark. He was born in Tennessee on the 12th of October, 1846, and came to Arkansas with his father when a child, where the latter died shortly after. In 1868 M. W. Boyd was united in the bonds of matrimony to Miss M. J. McMillin, who was born in the "Palmetto State" and came to Arkansas with her parents, W. P. and Adaline (Cooley) McMillin in 1853, settling on what is known as the old Willcockson estate, consisting of 500 acres. Here Mr. McMillin greatly improved his farm, became a well-known citizen of the county, and died on the 19th of May, 1862. After his marriage Mr. Boyd began improving his farm on an extensive scale by erecting good buildings, setting out orchards, etc., and did considerable in the way of stock raising. He was interested in all things that promised to promote the welfare of his section, and was a liberal contributor to churches and schools. He died on the 27th of May 1885, leaving his wife and children one of the best farms in the county, on which is a roomy and substantial dwelling-house, surrounded by ornamental trees and shrubbery. Mrs. Boyd is ably managing the farm, and besides the usual crops is engaged in raising cotton. She and Mr. Boyd became the parents of the following children: Onie, Alice, Clara and Selma.

E. S. BRAY

Transcribed by A. Newell, July 2007

Source: The Goodspeed Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas, 1889, The Goodspeed Publishing Company, Chicago, p. 124.

E. S. Bray, postmaster at Paragould and cashier of the Bank of Paragould, is classed among the prominent and successful business men of that town. He was born in Chatham County, N. C. and is the son of Solomon and Sarah (Brooks) Bray, natives of North Carolina, where they passed their entire lives. They were the parents of nine children, seven now living, three in N. C., two in TN, and two in AR. E. S. Bray was but a lad when his parents died, and he went to live with an elder brother in TN, where he remained until grown. He received his education in that State and remained engaged in assisting on the farm until 1878, when he came to AR. Previous to this, in 1869, he married Miss Margaret E. Cox, a native of TN, and after coming to AR he located three miles from Paragould and followed agricultural pursuits until July 14, 1885, when he was appointed postmaster. He is the owner of 440 acres of good land with about fifty acres under cultivation, and has made many improvements since purchasing the farm. He has been magistrate for a number of years, and was one of the enumerators of the census of Greene County in 1880. He is a member of the Masonic Fraternity, and represented his lodge at the Grand Lodge. He is also a member of the K. of P. He and wife belong to the Baptist Church.

R. T. DANIEL

Transcribed and contributed by Frances Cooley

R. T. Daniel, a merchant and farmer of Clark Township, Greene County, was born in 1837 in Tennessee, and is the fifth of a family of nine children born to Ephraim and Pennie (Mundson) Daniel, who were Tennesseeans. The father was a sturdy son of the soil, and when our subject was a child removed to Mississippi, where he was engaged in farming until 1855. At that date he came to Greene County, Ark., and settled on the farm on which R. T. Daniel is now residing, which consisted of 200 acres. He improved this farm very much and soon had quite an extensive tract under cultivation and furnished with good buildings.
R. T. Daniel remained with his parents until twenty-five years of age, then marrying Miss Elizabeth Pilmore, who was born in Mississippi and came with her parents to Arkansas at an early day. Soon after he erected a cottage on his father's farm. and began tilling the soil for himself on forty acres of land purchased from his father. Later he bought eighty acres more. At his father's death, in 1870, he inherited the remainder.
When the war broke out he enlisted in Capt. Anderson's Company, and was with Gen. Shelby on his raid through Missouri, and was in the battle of Cape Girardeau, where he was wounded. He was also at Helena, Devall's Bluff. Little Rock, Camden and Saline River. While with Price on his raid through Missouri he was in the engagements at Iron Mountain, Independence, Blue Lick, Boonville and Kansas City. He then retreated to Texas and surrendered at Pine Bluff. After his return home he resumed farming successfully, continuing until 1887, when he received a stroke of paralysis, and has not been able to do hard labor since.
He is now conducting a general mercantile store on his farm, which is netting him a fair income. Sixty acres of his place are under cultivation, and he devotes it to raising corn, cotton, etc. He and wife are the parents of the following children: James, who is married to
Miss Nancy Fielder; Eliza Jane, wife of Jeff Adams; Henry, Thomas, Pollie, and Sarah Elizabeth. The family worship in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Mr. Daniel has served as school director and has always taken a deep interest in educational matters, as well as all other worthy enterprises.
Source: Northeast Arkansas Biographies and Historical Memoirs.

COLONEL BENJAMIN A. JOHNSON

Transcribed and Contributed by: Frances Cooley

Benjamin A. Johnson, who lives at Crowley in this county, was a native of the state of Tennessee and his first wife was Sarah E. Fielder, of Hickman County of that state.
The writer married a younger sister of Mrs. Johnson, she being Miss R.L. Fielder.

Another sister was married to John C. Treadway, and was the mother of Thomas, William, and Ed Treadway, of Paragould, and of Mrs. McFall, of near Camp Ground
Another of the sisters of the Tennessee Fielders was married to Rev. E. H. Bratton, and she was the mother of Mrs. Sallie Mangrum, William, Thomas and Manda Bratton.
These ladies were sisters of Thomas and Polk Fielder.
Colonel Johnson enlisted in the Confederate Army in Missouri and was made Lieut. Col. in Reeve's regiment of Missouri cavalry, a most daring and indomitable body of soldiers. They made their mark where they went and victory perched upon their arms on many a bloody field. At the close of the war Col. Johnson came to Polland, now in Clay County, but which was then in Greene County.
In 1869 he came down to the Dr. Croft farm and soon afterward bought and moved onto the old Ed Bratton homestead, where he lived for several years and then purchased the Mart Gramling place and moved to it, and resides there at the present time.
Col. Johnson is strong and active for one of his age and is now living with his third wife.
He is a consistant member of the Baptist church, a great student of current news and takes a lively interest in political affairs, being an old line Jeffersonian Democrat.
He appears satisfied to spend the rest of his days on Sugar Creek, surrounded by his children, grand-children and great grand-children, drinking the finest water in the world, eating big red apples and smoking home-made tobacco.

B. A. Johnson, a wealthy farmer and stockman, of Greene County, Ark., was born in Hickman County, Tenn., in 1834, and is the fifth in a family of ten children born to Granville M. and Nereusa (Gardner) Johnson, who were Tennesseeans, the father being a farmer by occupation, and a wealthy citizen. He was justice of the peace in Tennessee for many years, and died in that State in 1884, followed by his wife some two years later. The paternal and maternal grandfathers were Virginians, who removed to Tennessee at an early day, the former reaching this State in 1812. Here they both died.
B. A. Johnson was reared to farm labor, and had very poor educational advantages in his youth. He remained at home until attaining his majority, and then for several years was engaged in brick-laying. At the age of twenty-one he was wedded to Miss Sarah E. Fielder, a native of Tennessee. In 1855 he located in Wayne County, Mo., where, in 1860, he bought a farm, and embarked in agriculture, continuing until the war broke out, when he raised a company of Missouri State Guards, of which he was elected first lieutenant. He soon resigned this position, and enlisted as a private in the Confederate army, being elected first lieutenant of Reeves' Cavalry Company of independent scouts. He was soon sent east of the Mississippi, and was in the battles of Memphis, Corinth, Iuka, Jacinto, Richmond, Ky., Perryville, after which he was transferred to the western department of Arkansas, where he was detailed to raise a regiment, of which he was made lieutenant-colonel. In this capacity he participated in the battles of Little Rock, Pine Bluff and Saline River, and was then with Price on his Missouri raid, taking part in every battle fought on this trip. During the war his family removed from Missouri south to Clay County, Ark., and here Mr. Johnson went after the cessation of hostilities, where he remained three years, and then came to Cache Township, Greene County, Ark, where they are still residing.
He purchased a partially improved farm of 160 acres, opened about sixty acres, and in 1871 purchased 160 acres three miles south of his first place, to which he has added 170 acres, and has cleared 100 acres, having about 200 under cultivation. In addition to these tracts he has about 500 acres in another locality. He does general farming, but gives the most of his attention to the raising of corn and cotton. He is an active politician, a substantial supporter of churches and schools, and he and family attend the Baptist Church, of which he and his wife are members.
His family consists of the following children: John W., born February 17, 1856, who is married and resides on his father's land; William G., born February 9, 1858, also married and living in the township; Barbara Etta Bell, born October 5, 1860, wife of E. R. C. Biggs, a resident of Woodruff County; Robert E. Lee, born October 21, 1863, died in 1864; Adelaide, born September 24, 1865, wife of P. Eubanks, of Greene County; Samantha C., born August 4, 1867; Victoria R., wife of James Light, born July 19, 1869; Sarah N., born October 10,
1871; Benjamin O, born June 10, 1874; and Lizzie B., born August 11, 1877.
Source: Northeast Arkansas Biographies and Historical Memoirs.

JOHN C. TREDAWAY

Transcribed and contributed by Francis Cooley

John C. Tredaway is one of the successful farmers of Union Township, and one of its oldest settlers. He was born in Pendleton District, S. C., in 1812, and is a son of Richard and Nancy (Smith) Tredaway, who were born in Georgia and South Carolina, the former's birth occurring in 1787. He grew to manhood in his native State, was married in South Carolina, and after residing in Tennessee for about ten years, returned to Georgia, where he was engaged in farming until his death in 1851. His wife was born in 1794 and died in 1871, and both were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Of their ten children, eight lived to be grown, and seven are living at the present time.
The maternal grandfather came from Europe with two brothers and settled in Georgia, but it is not known where the others settled. He was a farmer, and lived and died in the state of his adoption, his death occurring when between sixty and seventy years of age. His wife lived to be nearly 100 years old, and also died in Georgia. She was an earnest member of the Baptist Church. To them were born five children, the father of our subject being the eldest.
John C. Tredaway, who was the second of his parents' children, grew to manhood in East Tennessee. At the age of twenty-one years he commenced for himself, engaging in the shoemaker's trade, and followed this occupation in connection with farming until he went to Georgia, when he opened a wagon shop, which he managed with farming eight years.
In 1856 he came to Arkansas and located on a farm on Crowley's Ridge in Clay County, where he remained for about sixteen years, subsequently spending three years in Boone County, Ark. Here his wife died on the 12th of November, 1872, her birth occurring in South Carolina November 6, 1808, her maiden name being Rebecca Chapman. They were married August 21, 1884, and became the parents of ten children, four of whom are alive. The names of the children are: John W., who died in Tennessee; Asbury F., who first joined the Confederate Army, and later, on account of his wife, joined the Union forces, went South, and as he was never afterward heard from, was supposed to have been killed; Francis M., who served in the Confederate Army and died in Mississippi, being buried there with 10,000 other soldiers; William B., also a Confederate soldier, was taken sick and died somewhere in the South; James R., who sickened and died in
Greene County, and was buried at Oak Bluff; Nancy E., wife of William Wagner, residing in Clay County, Ark.; Sidney S., a resident of Clay County; Sarah A., wife of Benjamin Copeland, of Clay County; Mary A., wife of Buck Fain, of Boone County, Ark., and an infant not named.
Mr. Tredaway was married a second time to Amanda Fielder, who was born in Hickman County, Tenn., in 1840. To them six children have been born: Thomas F., John W. W., Edward S., Mary and Martha (twins), and an infant that died in childhood, not named.
Mr. Tredaway and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, the latter having been a professed Christian for fifty-eight years, and an active worker in the church. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., and in his political views is a Democrat.
Source: Northeast Arkansas Biographies and Historical Memoirs.

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